Marion County Public Schools Food & Nutrition
Services mission is to provide nutritious meals that help
Florida
Carrots
In Florida, carrots do best during the cooler seasons in deep, well-drained soil.
Carrots are 88% water.
Carrots take 4 months to grow from seed to vegetable.
The edible part of a carrot is the root.
Carrots are the second most popular vegetable in the world, after potatoes.
2,000 carrot seeds fit in 1 teaspoon.
Carrots thrive in overall temperatures.
Carrots can survive entire WINTERS underground!
Carrots are biennials, which means they have a 2-year life cycle.
Crones’ Cradle Conserve
Crones’ Cradle Conserve is an organic vegetable, fruit & herb farm.
Crones’ Cradle Conserve has a Crones’ Cradle Conserve began in 1987 with 80 acres of land.
Cradle Conserve is located in Citra, Florida. their gardens & greenhouse!
Crones’ Cradle Conserve focuses on sustainability & conservation. Crones’ Cradle Conserve has grown over the years & is now home to 750+ acres of land.
Florida
Squash
Florida harvests around 85,000 pounds of squash each year.
Florida is the 4th largest squash producing state.
TWO Types of Squash: W I N T E R
Examples of winter squash are pumpkins, acorn & butternut.
Winter squash has much harder skin than summer squash.
Squash are a fruit!
Summer squash grows faster than winter squash.
Squash are related to melons!
1 acre of land could grow around 11,000 squash!
Winter squash takes 80 – 120 days to mature after being planted.
FANS
Chris Roy is the FANS Horticulture Coordinator.
FANS is a Marion County Public Schools program that promotes
Every school in MCPS has a FANS program.
FANS stands for “Fitness and Nutrition in Schools nutrition education through school gardens.
Marion County Public Schools are located in Ocala, Florida
FANS provides the-art crop producing greenhouses.
Florida
Cucumbers
Cucumbers rank 8th most valuable crop in Florida.
Cucumbers in FL are grown either outside or in greenhouses.
The U.S. is the 4th largest cucumber producing country in the world.
Cucumbers take 12 to produce fruit after being planted.
cucumbers are grown worldwide each year.
Cucumbers are 90% water.
Bees are essential for the pollination of cucumbers.
Cucumbers can grow 2 feet
Cucumbers are a
The large leaves on the cucumber plant provides shade for the developing fruit.
WYCO Produce
WYCO Produce is a produce sales & marketing company.
WYCO Produce markets both & domestic growers of fruits & vegetables.
Brentt Skinner founded WYCO produce in 2010.
WYCO Produce delivers fresh produce offers a wide variety of produce throughout the year.
WYCO Produce’s sales office is located in Tampa, Florida.
“Delivering the best quality fruit, vegetables & service. ”
WYCO Produce has partnered with growers in various global regions.
Florida
Tomatoes
Florida is ranked the #1 state for growing fresh tomatoes.
3
Popular Types
1. Cherry
2. Grape
3. Roma
MANY Americans grow tomatoes in their own garden.
Florida grows 50% of all fresh tomatoes grown in the U.S.
Tomatoes take 60 - 100 days to grow from seed to fruit.
season crop that LOVE the sun.
Marjon Specialty Foods
Marjon Specialty Foods is a grower, processor & distributor of fresh produce.
Marjon Specialty Foods has been a leader in the produce industry since 1972. A familyoriented company.
Marjon Specialty Foods is always working to expand their produce variety selection.
Marjon Specialty Foods is located in Plant City, Florida.
Marjon Specialty Foods sells their produce to grocery
Milk
Lafayette and Okeechobee are Florida’s leading dairy counties.
FUN FACTS
Most of the dairy cows in Florida are Holsteins (the black and white cows), and their spots are unique like a fingerprint!
DAIRY FACTS
Cows chew their cud 50 times per minute.
How many times can chew in a minute?!
Cows can SEE almost and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
Most Florida dairy herds range 150 -
Florida dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.
A Florida dairy cow produces about 68 gallons of milk each day.
M&B Dairy
M&B Dairy is a 4th-generation family dairy farm that is home to over 700 dairy cows the dairy industry through all aspects of their production.
M&B Dairy is currently run by Dale McClellan.
Located in Lecanto, FL.
M&B Dairy prioritizes COMFORT for their cows with open-air barns and rubber mats in stalls.
“Buffy the Cow” is M&B Dairy’s mascot.
M&B Dairy provides milk to over 32 school districts in Florida.
M&B Dairy was started in the 1950s.
IN A CUP
Let’s shake some BUTTER!
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream 1 ounce plastic cups with lids
Pour 2 tablespoons of heavy cream into each portion cup. Place the lid on each cup, and distribute to students.
Shake the container until butter forms a soft lump. Continue to shake until buttermilk separates out of the lump and the container contains a solid lump of butter and liquid buttermilk. The process should take 3 to 5 minutes.
To strain, pour off or drink the buttermilk, leaving only the solid butter.
OPTIONAL: Remove the lump of butter, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
For more information, visit FloridaMilk.com/in-the-schools
